3 minute read
The best laid plans don’t always work out!
Kris Lees sent Grande Rumore to Melbourne looking for a drier track, only for the city's weather to turn sour.
Whilst a "Heavy 8" rating was posted this morning for the Flemington card, he is hopeful it won't be too bad by the time the mare's race comes around tomorrow afternoon.
Blaike McDougall has been booked for Grande Rumore in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex.
"I sent her to Melbourne hoping she would get firmer ground," Lees said this morning.
"Flemington usually dries pretty well, and hopefully that will be the case.
"Grande Rumore is in good order, and she has freshened up nicely since running at the Gosford stand-alone meeting a month ago when she was only three lengths from the winner in a 1200m Benchmark 78."
Grande Rumore is Lees' sole Melbourne representative, but he has three runners at the corresponding Rosehill Gardens meeting.
Terrameades (Tom Sherry) lines up in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m), and newcomer Per Inaway (Brenton Avdulla) and Zetarita (apprentice Dylan Gibbons) represent the stable in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) for fillies and mares.
The rail is 3m out at Rosehill, and an improving "Heavy 8" rating was posted this morning.
"Terrameades is racing really well this campaign with two wins and two placings," Lees said.
"She has been placed at her last two runs on the Kensington track and now goes to a Saturday race.
"It's a tougher task, but she has a nice drop in weight and is not without a chance.
"Per Inaway is a New Zealand filly having her first Australian start for us.
"She has a good record, winning twice and placing twice from her only four starts to date.
"Per Inaway won a 1000m trial at Scone on May 25 and is working well, and it will be interesting to see how she shapes up in Saturday class in town.
"Zetarita ran really well first-up when seventh (at $101) to Zapateo in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m) at the Scone carnival three weeks ago.
"I won't be surprised at all to see her cause a surprise tomorrow, even though Dylan (Gibbons) won't be able to claim on her."
. Lees has sent Spanish Point to Dubbo today for the $100,000 Wellington Cup (1600m), which was to have been held last Sunday at Wellington.
Aaron Bullock has the mount in the feature event, which provides the first two placegetters with eligibility for the $2m The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 1.
